The United Nations defined genocide as the “crime of crimes”, as it refers to the deliberate and systematic annihilation, in part or in its totality, of an ethic, racial, political, religious or national group.

Indeed, in 1948, genocide was defined as a crime for the first time and in 1951, it was established as a crime under international law, which goes against the norms and values represented by the United Nations.

During the last decades, the world has witnessed several massacres. Among them include: the Algerian genocide of 1962, also known as the Oran massacre which started on Algeria’s National Independence day; the Guatemalan genocide, which ocurred between 1981 and 1983; the Argentina Dirty War genocide; and the 1988 Anfal Campaign which saw the Iraqi government use chemicals against its Kurdish population.

Unfortunately, genocide is a phenomenon that has a long history, tracing back to the extermination of indigenous people during the colonisation of the Americas. This crime goes beyond borders and has occurred in all continents. Where does the hatred pushing for the annihilation of a social group come from?

However, this is not the only question surrounding the issue. The situation in Rwanda that saw roughly 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu individuals exterminated, which highlighted a further dimension to this problem: how should governments and international actors be involved? What role should they take?

Additionally, genocide permeates within populations and has lasting effects on new generations. It takes many years of genuine reconciliation efforts to overcome the bitterness generated during relatively short periods of inhuman cruelty.